Towards the end of the Ottoman (Turk) rule in
Palestine, the Jewish settlers had realized they could trust no
one to defend and protect them from the threat of the Arab
gangs.

They started developing a simple “self defense”
system made up of simple elements. They learned combat methods
from British soldiers who were still fighting the Turks. The
Jewish settlement, supporting the British at that time, was
being strengthened in order to undermine Turkish rule.

British
training included boxing, Judo, wrestling and other fighting
systems that the British soldiers had learned during the reign
of the British Empire. Trainees added fighting with a walking
stick, shepherd stick, knife and bayonet. They called this style
of fighting KAPAP קפא"פ (Hebrew
acronym for Krav Panim el Panim,
קרב פנים אל פנים face-to-face combat).

Between the years 1920-1948 KAPAP evolved and
became the combat doctrine of the different underground
movements, mainly the Haganah הגנה
(the
Hebrew word for defense). KAPAP developed and became more
sophisticated throughout the years. The new immigrants to
Palestine brought with them new practices and tactics.

With
the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, KAPAP became
the combat doctrine for the Israel Defense Forces Israel Police
and the various armed forces of Israel at the time. The unique
style kept on evolving, adding elements of modern, classic and
ancient combat using rifles and guns as well. KAPAP became the
concept of simple and very effective fighting styles.